Pucky Freak
Well-known member
Oct 1st kicks off archery deer and turkey in my home state. I have a stack of tags: either sex bow turkey, either sex gun turkey, either sex bow deer, either sex shotgun deer, and six additional doe tags. Not that I realistically have enough time to fill all of these (I don't). But there's always a "what if" I do fill the tags, I can keep hunting through January without having to worry about running out. Last year I struck out on deer, so my commitment this year is ample time scouting and more days hunting.
This is my first year shooting and hunting with a compound bow. While it is fun in and of itself, I also intend it to be practice for future elk hunting via spot and stalk, use of a rangefinder, gutless method (for deer), and packing out with game bags. I've got to where 30 yards is a chip shot, and 45 is my max deer distance, but only with perfect conditions.
My Block archery target was starting to wear out, so I set off to build my own target using household trash and other surplus materials. I wanted to be able to shoot broadheads as well as longer range with field points. My original design was 4x4, but this turned out to be too heavy and bulky to move around. My finished design is roughly circular with a 30" diameter. The core of the target is grocery sacks, bubble packaging, worn out clothes with buttons, snaps, and zippers removed, and other household soft plastic, mostly packaging material, saved over the course of about 3 months. I stuffed this as tightly as possible into a large contractor bag. Next I dismantled an old queen-sized pillow top mattress and box spring, recycled the metal, burned the wood, and all that was left was soft materials. The low-density material such as foam and fiber insulation was discarded, but the heavier quilted fabric was saved. These were laid out flat, placed the contractor bag in the middle, then wrapped it all up using 3 worn out ratchet straps. The face of the target is pointed up in the picture, but I turn it on it's side to shoot. Field points stick about 4-8" into the target and pull out very easily. Target should last a very long time. I'm able to practice out to 55 yards without having to worry about missing the 16" Block target. It weighs about 35 lbs and can roll in and out of my shed to practice in my backyard. Total cost = $0.
Next test was a broadhead. Shot Easton FMJ with factory (un)sharpened G5 Montec at 60 lb draw. Broadhead cut through 6" of quilting, the entire stuffed contractor bag (about 20") and 2" of quilting on the back end. I had to disassemble the target to unscrew the broadhead and pull the shaft out. Major fail on creating a broadhead target. However, this was very encouraging to see how much penetration was achieved - should zip through a deer no problem, especially now that I have put a real edge on the blades. I clipped wet/dry sandpaper to plexiglass rectangles, first using 600 grit, and then mirror finish with 1000. I tested out the rest of my broadheads on the Block and tore it to shreds, but I now have my #1-5 arrows confirmed to fly straight.
I have 2 ladder stands set up on private properties within 10 minutes of my house. One 20 acre section has not been hunted any time recently according to the landowner, and I'm the only one with permission to hunt there this year. It's also bordered almost entirely by corporate or municipal property where hunting is not allowed. I picked a promising looking funnel/trail for my stand. It's very thick timber and hard to tell where the deer are moving, although I revisited it a week ago and found fresh tracks and droppings. No real way quiet or easy way to access the stand until the corn is out, but come November I plan to be out there quite a bit. I tested the shooting lanes with my bow and found one of them I cannot draw back unless I sit on the very edge of my stand and crouch, as my release elbow bumps the tree. I feel like this shot is doable, but will likely favor the 2 other shooting lanes if at all possible. I'm holding out for a 3 1/2 year old buck, but if I see an older one I might pass on everything smaller.
The second stand is along 2 new properties where I got permission this year. One of the landowners has trail cam pics of some small bucks and many does and fawns near my stand. I've also scouted and observed a doe feeding within 75 yards of the stand. One older doe is very thin - hips and ribs are quite visible. My guess is that the deer is just old, although disease might be the cause. If I can take this deer I hope to age the animal based on its teeth. The landowner has asked me to take several does off this property due to overpopulation and crop damage, which is what many of my doe tags are good for. Below is a pic of the stand, as well as a well worn fork in a funnelled trail about 15 yards in the shade to the right of it.
The public ground I will be hunting is mostly my turkey hot spots, but with a bow I can also take a deer. I'm not totally beyond sitting a blind, but I favor places I can walk around quietly, spot birds at a distance, and then try to sneak in and make a shot. WT from stands is fun, but I like a challenging stalk too. Shotgun deer I had a bad experience last year with having shots fired in my direction on public ground, so this year the hunt is a minor focus. I have a couple spots that are very remote with low deer densities and quite unlikely to run into another hunter which I'll be focusing on for safety, quiet, and a challenging packout if I do kill an animal.
Deer are piling up by the hundreds in South Central IA from EHD, and one of my spots isn't too far from where dead deer have been found. On Saturday my wife headed off to the Iowa v. Iowa State game and my daughter and I hiked (she mostly rode along in my backpack) about a 9-mile loop to check on ponds, creeks, and other water sources where EHD deer usually end up. Fortunately, found no dead deer. Did see what looked like a turkey about 1/2 mile away perched on a log. Didn't have binos to confirm, and we continued to approach. Finally it hopped of the log and sheltered in the grass when we got within about 300-350 yards. The first hard frost cannot come fast enough to kill off the midges that spread the disease. Until then, I plan to scout these water sources again to see if the disease has spread there.
This morning I walked some mowed tractor paths and buffer strips for doves. This was more of an armed hike/get some exercise rather than a serious attempt to bag some birds. Not long after heading out I spotted several pheasants and a deer ahead, and they also saw me. I moved back into the cover and walked in closer to them. When I figured I was near to where I last saw them I approached the opening and saw a second deer at 30 yards. I walked in to 20 yards and the two of them still did not spook. Just for fun I went through my pre-shot bow routine of ranging one of them, getting a good stance, finding an opening in the vegetation, picking a spot on the animal, drawing back my imaginary bow, and squeezing the release. They still didn't spook. I cradled my shotgun, pulled out my camera to snap a picture and this time they took off. At the same time a hen pheasant flushed along with a flight of 5-6 doves at my feet. I fumbled and dropped the camera, then missed 2 easy shots at the doves
Happy hunting to everyone else out there chasing fall animals!
This is my first year shooting and hunting with a compound bow. While it is fun in and of itself, I also intend it to be practice for future elk hunting via spot and stalk, use of a rangefinder, gutless method (for deer), and packing out with game bags. I've got to where 30 yards is a chip shot, and 45 is my max deer distance, but only with perfect conditions.
My Block archery target was starting to wear out, so I set off to build my own target using household trash and other surplus materials. I wanted to be able to shoot broadheads as well as longer range with field points. My original design was 4x4, but this turned out to be too heavy and bulky to move around. My finished design is roughly circular with a 30" diameter. The core of the target is grocery sacks, bubble packaging, worn out clothes with buttons, snaps, and zippers removed, and other household soft plastic, mostly packaging material, saved over the course of about 3 months. I stuffed this as tightly as possible into a large contractor bag. Next I dismantled an old queen-sized pillow top mattress and box spring, recycled the metal, burned the wood, and all that was left was soft materials. The low-density material such as foam and fiber insulation was discarded, but the heavier quilted fabric was saved. These were laid out flat, placed the contractor bag in the middle, then wrapped it all up using 3 worn out ratchet straps. The face of the target is pointed up in the picture, but I turn it on it's side to shoot. Field points stick about 4-8" into the target and pull out very easily. Target should last a very long time. I'm able to practice out to 55 yards without having to worry about missing the 16" Block target. It weighs about 35 lbs and can roll in and out of my shed to practice in my backyard. Total cost = $0.
Next test was a broadhead. Shot Easton FMJ with factory (un)sharpened G5 Montec at 60 lb draw. Broadhead cut through 6" of quilting, the entire stuffed contractor bag (about 20") and 2" of quilting on the back end. I had to disassemble the target to unscrew the broadhead and pull the shaft out. Major fail on creating a broadhead target. However, this was very encouraging to see how much penetration was achieved - should zip through a deer no problem, especially now that I have put a real edge on the blades. I clipped wet/dry sandpaper to plexiglass rectangles, first using 600 grit, and then mirror finish with 1000. I tested out the rest of my broadheads on the Block and tore it to shreds, but I now have my #1-5 arrows confirmed to fly straight.
I have 2 ladder stands set up on private properties within 10 minutes of my house. One 20 acre section has not been hunted any time recently according to the landowner, and I'm the only one with permission to hunt there this year. It's also bordered almost entirely by corporate or municipal property where hunting is not allowed. I picked a promising looking funnel/trail for my stand. It's very thick timber and hard to tell where the deer are moving, although I revisited it a week ago and found fresh tracks and droppings. No real way quiet or easy way to access the stand until the corn is out, but come November I plan to be out there quite a bit. I tested the shooting lanes with my bow and found one of them I cannot draw back unless I sit on the very edge of my stand and crouch, as my release elbow bumps the tree. I feel like this shot is doable, but will likely favor the 2 other shooting lanes if at all possible. I'm holding out for a 3 1/2 year old buck, but if I see an older one I might pass on everything smaller.
The second stand is along 2 new properties where I got permission this year. One of the landowners has trail cam pics of some small bucks and many does and fawns near my stand. I've also scouted and observed a doe feeding within 75 yards of the stand. One older doe is very thin - hips and ribs are quite visible. My guess is that the deer is just old, although disease might be the cause. If I can take this deer I hope to age the animal based on its teeth. The landowner has asked me to take several does off this property due to overpopulation and crop damage, which is what many of my doe tags are good for. Below is a pic of the stand, as well as a well worn fork in a funnelled trail about 15 yards in the shade to the right of it.
The public ground I will be hunting is mostly my turkey hot spots, but with a bow I can also take a deer. I'm not totally beyond sitting a blind, but I favor places I can walk around quietly, spot birds at a distance, and then try to sneak in and make a shot. WT from stands is fun, but I like a challenging stalk too. Shotgun deer I had a bad experience last year with having shots fired in my direction on public ground, so this year the hunt is a minor focus. I have a couple spots that are very remote with low deer densities and quite unlikely to run into another hunter which I'll be focusing on for safety, quiet, and a challenging packout if I do kill an animal.
Deer are piling up by the hundreds in South Central IA from EHD, and one of my spots isn't too far from where dead deer have been found. On Saturday my wife headed off to the Iowa v. Iowa State game and my daughter and I hiked (she mostly rode along in my backpack) about a 9-mile loop to check on ponds, creeks, and other water sources where EHD deer usually end up. Fortunately, found no dead deer. Did see what looked like a turkey about 1/2 mile away perched on a log. Didn't have binos to confirm, and we continued to approach. Finally it hopped of the log and sheltered in the grass when we got within about 300-350 yards. The first hard frost cannot come fast enough to kill off the midges that spread the disease. Until then, I plan to scout these water sources again to see if the disease has spread there.
This morning I walked some mowed tractor paths and buffer strips for doves. This was more of an armed hike/get some exercise rather than a serious attempt to bag some birds. Not long after heading out I spotted several pheasants and a deer ahead, and they also saw me. I moved back into the cover and walked in closer to them. When I figured I was near to where I last saw them I approached the opening and saw a second deer at 30 yards. I walked in to 20 yards and the two of them still did not spook. Just for fun I went through my pre-shot bow routine of ranging one of them, getting a good stance, finding an opening in the vegetation, picking a spot on the animal, drawing back my imaginary bow, and squeezing the release. They still didn't spook. I cradled my shotgun, pulled out my camera to snap a picture and this time they took off. At the same time a hen pheasant flushed along with a flight of 5-6 doves at my feet. I fumbled and dropped the camera, then missed 2 easy shots at the doves
Happy hunting to everyone else out there chasing fall animals!
